Abstract
The paper investigated the forest fringe community’s participation in forest reserve sustainability in Ghana using Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana as a case study. The key issues examined are the forest reserve management strategies, stakeholder’s participation and livelihood activities of forest fringe communities. Two stage sampling technique was used to sample forty-two respondents for the study. A structured questionnaire in an interview form was used to solicit information from the respondents. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse the data. The results of the study indicate that there is a management plan for the forest reserve but Forest Services Division (FSD) does not follow its prescriptions strictly, the involvement of Forest Fringe Communities (FFCs) by FSD in the management of the forest reserve was insignificant and evidence of FSD not establishing income generating activity for FFCs livelihood sustenance. It is therefore recommended that community members should be empowered to play the role of co-managers of the forest reserve and there should be regular visit and interaction between FSD and the FFCs.
Highlights
IntroductionHow to cite this paper: Adusei, C., & Dunyah, J
One of the key factors of Ghana’s deforestation has been the alienation of forest fringe communities from policy formulation, planning and implementation of various forms of management strategies of the forest reserves that have been engaged so far such communities were expected to assist in protecting the forests
This is a positive indication for the implementation of the forest reserve management plan since the male are the heads of the family and can influence the rest of the family to rally behind the programme
Summary
How to cite this paper: Adusei, C., & Dunyah, J. Forest Fringe Communities Participation in Forest Reserve Sustainability in Ghana. Y. Dunyah of Land and Forestry, 1996). According to World Bank (2002), not less than 1 billion people depend on forests for their livelihoods at various degrees. It is not surprising that the passive integration of community livelihood activities into sustainable forest management has encouraged illegal forest harvesting since local people depend directly or indirectly on the forest for survival. It is not surprising that for the period of 1990-2010, Ghana lost an average of 125,400 ha or 1.68% per year. Ghana lost 33.7% or around 2,508,000 ha of its forest cover these periods (FAO, 2010)
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